Once, in an effort to clarify the complexities of the narcotics beat for his rookie recruit, Alonzo Harris (Denzel Washington) blares, “”It’s not checkers, it’s chess.”” His statement could also refer to “”Training Day,”” a tantalizing chess match waged between morale adversaries claiming to be from the same team.
The pieces on this chessboard, though, are never simply black or white, good or evil, as that would be far too easy. Instead, each piece resembles a shade of gray, and you’re never sure which side of the board they’re trying to conquer. The only point of certainty is that Washington’s Harris is the queen, the dominant piece with the power to change the game with a simple move, or end it with several short, precise strokes.The recruit is LAPD officer Jake Hoyt (Ethan Hawke), a 20-month rookie given the opportunity to audition for Harris’ elite team of plainclothes narcotics officers. Eager to please, Hoyt takes Harris’s words to be gospel. Only Hoyt can piece together the fact that Harris might actually be a corrupt cop, though David Ayer’s dubious screenplay leaves the door open to the idea that Harris’ underhanded behavior could all be a test for the green officer. A rarity in his nearly 25-year career, Washington plays the villain, and he approaches the role as he does any, with an unmatched passion and intelligence. It’s a credit to Hawke that he not only holds his own but also helps us to sympathize with this rookie by nailing the uncomfortable feeling one gets watching a pigeon being victimized by a tyrant.More surprising than Hawke’s admirable performance is Antoine Fuqua’s inspired direction. It’s not all kosher, and some scenes reach simplistic conclusions for the good of the plot. But several pieces must be sacrificed over the course of a chess match if checkmate is to be achieved, and the film rights itself after each sporadic misstep.Grade: A-THE EXTRASNow available on DVD from Warner Bros., the immediate feature that grabs the eye is the crisp video transfer. The image is perfect, with an amazing blend of color. The disc’s audio mix matches the fine work put into the visuals. They do Fuqua’s film justice.Fuqua also weighs in with a screen-specific audio commentary, which turns into a love fest for Washington and Hawke. Surprise, surprise…this is, after all, a character piece, and the two fine actors duel beautifully. Fuqua also provides some interestign anecdotes about the production, without getting into sordid details.Next up is the “”HBO First Look”” behind-the-scenes featurette, which runs approximately 15-minutes and offers interviews with the prime players. There are additional scenes, including an alternate ending that closely resembles the original ending, as well as two music videos – one by Nelly (#1) and one by Pharoahe Monch (Got You). The disc wraps up with the requisite trailers, filmographies and DVD Rom features.Grade: B+OVERALL EXPERIENCES:Fuqua’s “”Training Day”” exceeds expectations, thanks in part to incredible performances by Washington and a surprisingly able Hawke. The DVD is a great pickup, mainly for its pristine video transfer, and Fuqua’s commentary.Final Grade: A-By Sean O’Connell